LANE DAVIES, STACY EDWARDS, DON JEFFCOAT ANNOUNCED FOR SOMERSET CAST

The first three roles have been cast for the new SONBC drama Somerset, which has its premiere on July 16. The revival of the 1970s NBC serial centers around the return of a character who used to live in Somerset with her parents all those years ago, and she will serve as the loose link for a new batch of characters and storylines.

STACY EDWARDS, a veteran of "Santa Barbara" and numerous primetime and movie roles, has been tapped to play the role of Susannah Lucas. The daughter of former Somerset residents Sam and Lahoma Lucas, Susannah has chosen to hang her lawyer's shingle in the town where her father once practiced law. Susannah, who is in her late 30s, is the type of character who puts her professional life ahead of what goes on personally. The classic workaholic type, Susannah has had no reason to find love even though her parents, Sam and Lahoma, long ago worked out their romantic struggles.

LANE DAVIES, who starred on Santa Barbara from 1984-89 and has acted in numerous stage and TV roles since then, will play the pivotal character of Jack Martin. Jack, a successful entrepreneur, bought Delaney Brands from Robert Delaney before turning around and selling it to a worldwide conglomerate. Although he earned millions in the sale, he has long regretted what it did to the community as the cannery and plant where Delaney Brands once stood were closed down and eventually demolished. Jack, in his late 50s, has worked hard to improve Somerset ever since by imposing his own vision of what the town should look like.

DON JEFFCOAT, formerly the Reverend Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live, will play Nick Barclay. Nick, in his early 30s, is Somerset's youngest city manager and a political protege. Jack has attached his financial backing and networking skills to Nick's rapidly rising star. Nick is eager to hear what Jack has planned to revive Somerset's downtown and has been a backer of Jack's plans. But will Nick be sidetracked by something -- or someone -- that could pose a beguiling presence for him?

More roles to be cast soon as Somerset nears its July 16 premiere.